Mayo area had country's highest death rate
Belmullet was the Local Electoral Area (LEA) in Ireland with the highest ‘crude death rate’ in 2021. The crude death rate is the number of deaths divided by the population in an area.
Some 168 people died in Belmullet in 2021, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The crude death rate in Belmullet was 1,324.3 per 100,000 population and the average age of those who died was 80.
The highest cause of death in this area was due to diseases of the circulatory system, which was the cause of death in 46 cases. Neoplasms, which are abnormal cancerous or non-cancerous tissue growths, caused 44 deaths while 25 deaths were caused by Covid-19 in Belmullet. In early 2021, Belmullet hit national and international headlines when it became Ireland’s most Covid-infected area.
Figures were also released by the CSO for the rest of Mayo. In Ballina, some 218 people died in 2021. The crude death rate in Ballina was 803.9 per 100,000 population and the average age of deaths was 76.9. A total of 62 deaths were caused by neoplasms, 50 by diseases of the circulatory system, 27 by diseases of the respiratory system and 20 from Covid-19.
In Castlebar, 233 people died in 2021 with a crude death rate of 718.5 and an average age of deaths of 80.1. Neoplasms caused 66 deaths, diseases of the circulatory system caused 57 deaths and Covid-19 caused 39 deaths.
In Claremorris, 239 people died in 2021 with a crude death rate of 803.6 and an average death age of 79.5. Neoplasms caused 74 deaths, diseases of the circulatory system caused 65 deaths and Covid-19 caused 28 deaths.
In Westport, 128 people died in 2021 with a crude death rate of 666.2 and an average death age of 76. Some 37 deaths were caused by diseases of the circulatory system, 36 by neoplasms and 14 by Covid-19.
In Swinford, 167 people died in 2021 with a crude death rate of 938.2 and an average death age of 78.8. Some 53 deaths were due to diseases of the circulatory system, 42 due to neoplasms and 20 due to Covid-19.
